Quote Originally Posted by another view
Ugh... Gotta get some aspirin after reading thru this... Sorry, I'm self taught and play by ear!
Steve, I play by ear too, but reached the point where I felt I could not grow anymore unless I learned a) to sight read, and b) more about the mechanics of music.

Plus I wanted to communicate it with other musicians, being able to express what I liked and didn't like. ("Hey, that sounds good, but I think a minor third in the middle of the second verse would sound absolutely fantastic!")